Regioselectivity of vinyl sulfone based 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with sugar azides by computational and experimental studies.

DFT (M06-L) calculations on the transition state for the 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions between substituted vinyl sulfones with sugar azide have been reported in conjunction with new experimental results, and the origin of reversal of regioselectivity has been revealed using a distortion/interaction model. This study provides the scientific justification for combining organic azides with two different types of vinyl sulfones for the preparation of 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles and 1,4-disubstituted triazolyl esters under metal-free conditions.